Patterns

January 05, 2015

It's a brand new year and I have a long list of things I want to do this year. First up is a new Mystery...are you joining me?

I'm going to be sewing this mystery from my stash. I saw a challange on Instagram (#SewMyStash2015) that is challenging people to use their stash. So with this mystery I will be using ONLY my stash and hope you will join me in the challenge. (Don't worry, if you want to buy new fabric, that is ok too. I am all for supporting our local shops!)

May 24, 2013

We have arrived home from Portland...tired but happy. Busy times but it was alot of fun to see everyone and all the fabulous booths. The city of Portland is a fun place to visit and I think my favorite thing was all the roses bushes, HUGE roses bushes, that grow around the city.

The Rhododendron plants were also crazy huge (well, compared to what we can grow here) and beautiful!

I did remember to take a couple of pictures of my booth this time...

They aren't the best because I used my phone but at least I got a couple.

I will post next week about all the new small patterns that I now have available for you. If you want a peek at them, you can check them out on the Checker Distributors web-site. (This is a wholesale site for shop owners but you can see all the new patterns there...I will post some links soon on retail sites.) SHOP OWNERS..please note the price on them has been corrected. They had the price listed at first as $12.00 retail but have fixed them to the REAL PRICE of $5.00. I freaked out when I saw this because I don't want you to think my prices jumped up like the gas prices!

All the new patterns will be on my site soon. Just waiting for my lady to upload them.

I love the BOM Charming and Quaint. You have certainly been hard at work.

Thank you all for all the nice comments you left about the new patterns.I really appreciate all your kind words.

If you have done the last Mystery I would love to have a picture of it to share on my blog. Please send/email the picture by May 30th so I can post them. I will also be having a prize for one of the quilter's who shares with us.

More new stuff coming soon! Also, you follow me to can see what I am up to on Instagram. I am actually getting good at using that app!

February 08, 2013

I confess that I am a major bag lady...I love bags! One of my newest designs is the Sew Dowtown bag.

I love the front pocket which is perfect for papers, patterns, my kindle or an ipad. There is inside pockets for keys, cell phone, lip gloss or any small things you want to easily find. It is made with stiff interfacing like Peltex so that the bag stands up and holds it shape well. (I like to use the fusible kind to make the assembly go quicker.) And there is velcro in the handle to hold them together.

They are perfect for some of my take-along knitting projects. I love having knitting ready to go in bags that I can just grab as I run out the door and know I have everything together to work on it.

I added a little crocheted flower to this one~

Love yellow and gray together~

This one is made with fabric that a very good friend shared with me because I feel in love with it but of course it was sold out...isn't she a great friend! I do think I need to make a flower to go on it and I love the cute yellow lining with the polka dots.

Another new pattern I have is the Suzy's Sack.

I have to whip up a few extra of these to hang from the handles of my Sew Downtown bags. I love this little bag to hold my cell phone, car keys and anything else I need for on the go.

Because these are some of my newest patterns I think I should do a give-away, so leave me a comment on this post and I will draw a winner on Valentines day. If you are the lucky winnre you will receive a copy of each new bag pattern!

I also wanted to share with you the book I used to make my good friend some slippers~

I had someone ask me which book I used and of course I couldn't find it then but now here it is. There are alot of great felted projects in it. Here are the finshed slippers I made~

I think they turned out great even though I used a front loading washing machine. I did throw a couple of dryer balls in the washer and I think they helped alot.

This weekend I will be working on knitting up a hat. I am taking a class on how to design hats and I have alot of homework to do. I will share pictures next week.

June 06, 2011

Thanks so much for all your wonderful comments about the new "Season's" stitchery pattern. I'm so glad to know that you like it. Season's is one of those things I did that I thought...well, people will either like it or not...and I have to say YAY! You do like it!

June 02, 2011

One of my favorite things about living in Minnesota is the changing of the seasons. This year it seems like we have had a way to loooonnnggg winter, and not sure yet if we are having a spring but hoping for a warm and sunny summer. The seasons are beautiful even if they can be a little un-predicable sometimes. So to celebrate the seasons, I have something new for you!

For Spring Market, I drew up 6 embroidery patterns of different seasonal designs. I had the designs printed onto note cards with the pattern and envelopes also enclosed. I think they turned out pretty cute! Here is how they look when they are stitched up......

Here is how it works....purchase the note cards at your local quilt shop and stitch up the patterns. When you are done stitching, you can download the complimentary finishing pattern here on my blog or on my web-site (It should be on there shortly if it's not already there) and stitch up the blocks. The pattern has been set up at a block-of-month....making it easy to sew a block or two when you have a little time to sew. Then quilt, bind and enjoy!

The embroidery patterns also look wonderful stitched up into towels, pillows or even bags. Let your imagination go crazy with the all the possibilities for these cute designs!

Since the note cards are new for spring and we are still hoping for spring (yes, I know it's June!).....I am going to give away 3 complete set of the 6 note cards to 3 lucky people. So leave me a comment here on the blog and you will be entered in the give-away! I will draw for the winners on Monday, June 4th.

March 25, 2011

I have a few patterns that have some gathered strips in them such as Fun & Flirty, Out & About and Gotcha Covered. Even though they may look a little difficult, I am here to tell you that they are easy peasy!

To assemble the gathered strips, all you have to do is run a basting strip along the edges stated in the patterns.

Pull up the treads to gather the edges. I like to pull a little on both sides at the same time as I work my way up the strip, straightening as I go.

Press your gathered strip to keep the gathers in place. Re-press as needed to get the look you want. Then press your gathered strip to the fusible interfacing, being sure to cover the interfacing with the strip.

Trim strip to size stated in pattern (this is nice so you don't have to worry about making it perfect) and stitch to other pattern pieces.

February 15, 2011

With spring still a month or two away...I like to work on projects that are perky and fun to brighten the cold winter days. So to celebrate the coming spring-time, I have a new pattern called "Simple Things"!

With four separate embroidery patterns, you can use it as a quick block-of-the-month. Makes it easier to just throw the embroidery pattern you are working on in a bag and take with you on the go.

Since it's my newest pattern and I would love you to have a copy of "Simple Things"......Please leave me a comment here on the blog and I will draw 3 winners on Sunday February 20th!

Please e-mail me your addresses and I will pop your big prizes in the mail!

Thank you to everyone who joined us in the hop.We really appreciate all your nice comments and all the time you spent hopping with us!

Today is a pretty big day at our house. My oldest daughter has turned 17! I miss having her little but I am enjoying the wonderful adult she is becoming.

Back when she was little, people would tell me it goes by fast...enjoy her while she is little. I have treasured every moment but it sure did go by fast. I would love one more day with her little. She was such a cutie....still is! (I know I'm bias!)

To celebrate her birthday, I have gift for you! I made this cute little pincushion for some friends at retreat. So I thought I would share the pattern with you so you can enjoy it too. Quick, easy and perfect for gifts! I love this pincushion!

October 28, 2010

I am very excited to announce Mistletoe Make & Bake 2010! We have a baker's dozen of designer projects and dozens of cookies recipes for you just in time for the holidays. So get ready to hop through some wonderful blogs, collecting gift-giving projects and yummy cookie recipes perfect for your holiday cookie exchanges!

So mark your calendar and get ready for a fun week filled with cookie bliss, wonderful projects and awesome prizes!!

P.S. Please help us spread the word about the hop...we want everyone to join in the fun! So please Tweet, blog or Facebook your friends so that they don't miss the hoppin Holiday fun we have in store for you!

November 23, 2009

Where has the time gone? 16 years ago today, we were blessed with the cutiest little baby girl! Well, she actually looked like Yoda from Star Wars when she was first born. Ashley Kathryn, was born at 6:29 in morning...weighing 6 lbs, 6 oz. and was 19 inches long. It sure seems like that was just days ago, not 16 years. I have really enjoyed every stage with my kids...good and bad. I enjoy having teens and pre-teens but I would love to go back for just a day and hold my babies again. I think mom's always feel that way.

Now our little sweetie is 16 and it's a wonderful day to celebrate!

To celebrate Ashley's birthday...I am giving you the pattern for the Christmas Memories book cover!

And since gifts are a fun part of birthdays....we will be giving away a kit for the Christmas Memories book cover. We will include everything needed to make it and even the book Birchwood Lane that has the pattern in it....so leave a comment to be entered to win!